During the German Occupation (1940 - 1945) much of Jersey’s woodland was felled and the timber used for fuel and building puposes. Few trees were spared as fuel had been rationed since October 1941. By 1944 the Island's supplies were exhausted. The cutting down of precious trees and sawing them into logs for heating and cooking led to the loss of more than 200,000 trees during this short period.
St Catherine’s woods was largely felled during this time, but many trees escaped the felling. Amongst the large multiple stemmed trees (these were cut down during this time and have since re-grown) there are many trees which are among the oldest in the Island.
There are very few records of past land-use and management within the woods. There is some evidence of a water mill at the foot of St Catherine’s, but there is no documented evidence. It is thought that the woodland footpath is the possible route of a Perquage (path) running from St Martin’s Parish Church to the coast (St Catherine’s Jersey Tower). A perquage is a medieval sanctuary path believed to have existed from church to coast and used by fugitive criminals.
At present the woodland is surrounded by farmland and private houses. The surrounding fields are mainly used as grazing areas or for growing Jersey Royal potatoes. Although parts of the woodland are in private hands, the owners have granted public access, making it essential to treat the areas with respect so that we don’t lose this privilege. Parts of the site are restricted to the public, such as the woodland area surrounding Rozel Manor (at the northern end of the site), which is one of the oldest manor houses in Jersey.
The wood is made up of:
- natural glades
- fallen trees
- rocky outcrops
- a stream
- reservoir
- wet meadow
- willow carr
St Catherine's wood is considered to be the most ecologically important woodland in the Island.
The footpaths leading through the woodland are edged with many different species of wildflowers which are adapted to the conditions. Throughout spring the following can be found:
- bluebells
- wood sorrel
- wild daffodils
- greater stitchwort
- celandine
Later, as the sun gains some warmth, the following can be found:
- herb robert
- red campion
- foxglove
- spurge
- the rare yellow archangel
Many birds of interest can be found here, notably:
- the great spotted woodpecker
- short-toed treecreeper
- kestrel
- sparrowhawk
As well as a variety of smaller songbirds such as:
- blackcap
- chiff-chaff
- willow warbler
There are many small mammals occupying the site, including:
- red squirrel
- common shrew
- hedgehog
- wood mouse
- rabbit
Fish also share this habitat, with brown trout and common eels in the stream, and the reservoir is stocked with common and mirror carp, roach, rudd, perch and tench.
Placed to celebrate the birthday of AnGuS Thermopyle